Thilakan to lead in 'Chungakaarum Veshyakalum'

Veteran actor Thilakan has finally managed to reach Canada, to act in Chungakkaarum Veshyakalum (meaning 'Tax Collectors and Prostitutes'), a film shot in Canada and made by Malayalees settled in Canada. Though Thilakan was denied Visa twice, the makers wanted Thilakan to do the film and hence were patiently awaiting his arrival. And now that Thilakan is finally in Canada, the shoot for the film has re-commenced.

Scripted and directed by Isaac Thomas and produced under the banner of Maharshi Films, Chungakkaarum Veshyakalum tells the story of an aged man named Unnunnichaayan, who reaches Canada along with his son. The film, produced by V.B. Krishnadas, will narrate on screen the story of a Malayalee family in Canada. Unnunnichaayan, who is 75, is a typical Malayalee and doesn't know the English language at all. The experiences that the aged man has while in Canada are narrated in a very humorous manner in the film, which also has popular actor Achankunju in key role.

The cast also includes child artist Jason Mathew, Anu Thahim, R. Panicker, Kumar Varma, Ashok, Sreejith etc. The film, which had already started rolling in Alberta and the Rockies, the famous Mountain ranges in North America, now moves on to the second schedule, to be shot on locations in Kalgary and Edmonton and will also have in the frame Lake Louise, the Columbia Ice fields etc. Songs penned by Bichu Thirumala and P.K. Sreenivasan and set to tune by Biju Poulose, cinematography by Jayanan Vincent and editing by Canadian editor Peter Shvab are among the highlights of the film. Chungakkaarum Veshyakalum, slated for release in Kerala early in 2009, will also have an English version titled Tax Collectors and Prostitutes.